When the Music's Over: An Inspector Banks Novel (Inspector Banks Novels)
By Peter Robinson
William Morrow
August 2016

Two cases, decades apart, both involving multiple underage girls being raped. One case is cold but about to become scorching hot as it involves a beloved celebrity known to all, a celebrity who has been in the homes of millions of families over the air waves, welcomed like an old friend. Detective Superintendent Alan Banks has his work cut out for him, and as he takes lead on the cold case, DI Annie Cabot heads the current case, the disturbing murder of a local teen who has been raped, beaten and left for dead.

Banks knows that his investigation will be a challenge; after all it’s been decades since the event that is driving the investigation occurred. The victim is now a public figure herself, but that doesn’t change Banks’ determination to solve this case and bring it to trial. Although more victims come forward, Banks hits a wall when attempting to find documentation of several different incidents all tied to the case – but a wall has never been enough to stop him in his tracks. If anything, time is his enemy.

In the meantime, Annie and her team have their hands full with the investigation of the rape and murder of the young woman. Countless leads, CCTV footage and local police aren’t going to crack this case, and Annie knows it. When the pieces finally begin to come into focus, Annie is determined to bring all involved in the heinous crime to justice – no matter what.

There are over twenty books in Peter Robinson’s series featuring Detective Alan Banks, and When the Music’s Over is perhaps one of the most harrowing to read. Depraved men preying on young girls, and those who facilitate that activity one way or the other, feature broadly throughout the plot…but that IS the essence of the investigation. The story slowly winds its way to the two cases being solved, yet in one matter there is no true resolution. Suspenseful and disturbing, When the Music’s Over is not a light beach read, but it is a solidly well-written police procedural by one of the best authors in the genre.